Sickle-shaped blood cells block the flow of blood and oxygen to the body’s organs, causing painful episodes and organ damage, including stroke.

Sickle cell disease impacts more than people of African descent.

An inherited red blood cell disorder, the disease is more prevalent among black people, but its reach does not stop there.

“SCD is a genetic disorder affecting many races and ethnicities,” Piedmont Health Services and Sickle Cell Agency Program Director Azizi Coleman said. “SCD also commonly affects Hispanics, Asians, Indians and people of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern descent. In North Carolina, there are a handful of Caucasians living with sickle cell disease. The gene variant that caused sickle cell trait was the body’s way to fight malaria, trait equals malaria resistance.

“Remember that sickle cell is more common amongst persons of Middle Eastern, Indian, Mediterranean and African heritage because those geographic regions were most prone to malaria.”

As Coleman explained, “healthy red blood cells are round, and they move through small blood vessels carrying oxygen to all part s of the body. In SCD, the red blood cells become hard and sticky and look like a C-shaped farm tool called a ‘sickle.’” These cells die prematurely, thus causing a constant shortage of red blood cells, also known as anemia.

“Sickled cells can get stuck in small blood vessels and block the flow of blood and oxygen to organs in the body,” Coleman said. “These blockages cause repeated episodes of severe pain, organ damage, serious infections, or even stroke.”  

SCD impacts people all over the world.

“Most people don’t know that sickle cell disease is the most common inherited blood disorder worldwide,” Coleman said, with “80,000 persons affected in the United States.”

According to Coleman, one in 375 African-Americans, 1 in 1,400 Hispanics, 1 in 3,000 Native Americans and 1 in 60,000 Caucasians are affected. She contrasted these numbers with other diseases, such as childhood diabetes mellitus (1 in 2,500), childhood acute leukemia (1 in 2,880), cystic fibrosis (1 in 2,940) and muscular dystrophy (1 in 5,000).  

There are several common misconceptions about sickle cell.

“Sickle Cell affects mostly African Americans and is associated with recurring episodes of pain and organ damage,” Coleman said. “One’s life can be shortened without good medical and psychosocial care. Often times people with sickle cell disease are often overlooked due to racism and lack of knowledge about the disease in the medical and social community.”

While a universal cure does not exist for SCD, options for treatment include bone marrow transplants and stem cell transplants.

“A BMT will actually cure one’s body from being able to create sickled cells,” Coleman said. “To inherit SCD, both parents must carry the sickle cell trait.”

Piedmont Health Services & Sickle Cell Agency is hosting its third annual Sickle Cell Run Walk 3K on Aug. 27. Organizers are also asking African-American churches to host Sickle Cell Sunday on September 18 to increase awareness.

“Piedmont Health Services & Sickle Cell Agency will offer literature and lots of information on sickle cell disease and sickle cell trait,” Coleman said. “We will have speakers to present information and positive testimonies.  Runners and walkers will be afforded the opportunity to see a community of people and sponsors in support of the lives affected by SCD.   PHSSCA wants to present sickle cell disease to Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, NC and the nation because we too have a voice that needs to be heard.”

On the Net:
www.piedmonthealthservices.org

Comments